38410 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 21, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0544; Project 

Identifier AD–2021–00642–E; Amendment 

39–21646; AD 2021–14–19] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; International 

Aero Engines AG Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

International Aero Engines AG (IAE) 

V2500 model turbofan engines. This AD 

was prompted by a review of 

investigative findings from an event 

involving an uncontained failure of a 

high-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage 

disk that resulted in high-energy debris 

penetrating the engine cowling. This AD 

requires performance of an ultrasonic 

inspection (USI) of the HPT 1st-stage 

disk and HPT 2nd-stage disk and, 

depending on the results of the 

inspections, replacement of the HPT 1ststage disk or HPT 2nd-stage disk with a 

part eligible for installation. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective August 5, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of August 5, 2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain other publications listed in 

this AD as of July 13, 2021 (86 FR 

30380, June 8, 2021). 

The FAA must receive comments on 

this AD by September 7, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this final rule, contact International 

Aero Engines AG, 400 Main Street, East 

Hartford, CT 06118; phone: (800) 565– 

0140; email: help24@pw.utc.com; 

website: http://fleetcare.pw.utc.com. 

You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Airworthiness Products 

Section, Operational Safety Branch, 

1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 

01803. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call (781) 238–7759. It is also available 

at https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0544. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0544; or in person at Docket 

Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. The AD docket contains this 

final rule, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

the Docket Operations is listed above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Alberto Hernandez, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 

District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 

phone: (781) 238–7329; fax: (781) 238– 

7199; email: Alberto.J.Hernandez@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

On March 18, 2020, an Airbus Model 

A321–231 airplane, powered by IAE 

V2533–A5 model turbofan engines, 

experienced an uncontained HPT 1ststage disk failure that resulted in an 

aborted takeoff. The uncontained failure 

of the HPT 1st-stage disk resulted in 

high-energy debris penetrating the 

engine cowling. The FAA published 

Emergency AD 2020–07–51 on March 

21, 2020 (followed by publication in the 

Federal Register on April 13, 2020, as 

a Final Rule, Request for Comments (85 

FR 20402)) and AD 2021–01–03 on 

January 6, 2021 (86 FR 458) to remove 

from service HPT 1st-stage and HPT 

2nd-stage disks identified as having the 

highest risk of failure. 

Based on the root cause analysis 

performed since that event, the 

manufacturer identified a population of 

HPT 1st-stage disks and HPT 2nd-stage 

disks that require inspection and 

possible removal from service. In 

response, the FAA published AD 2021– 

11–15 on June 8, 2021 (86 FR 30380) to 

require performance of a USI on affected 

HPT 1st-stage disks and HPT 2nd-stage 

disks and, depending on the results of 

the USI, removal of the affected HPT 

disks from service. Compliance time for 

performance of the USI in AD 2021–11– 

15 is based on the specific IAE V2500 

model turbofan engine on which the 

HPT 1st-stage or 2nd-stage disk is 

installed and is required to be 

performed at the next engine shop visit 

or between 3,200–6,700 flight cycles 

(FCs), depending on the model turbofan 

engine, after the effective date of the 

AD, whichever occurs first. 

Based on the review of investigative 

findings from this March 2020 event, 

the manufacturer identified a high-risk 

subpopulation of parts that require 

urgent inspection. The FAA, therefore, 

published Emergency AD 2021–11–51 

on May 21, 2021 (followed by 

publication in the Federal Register on 

July 2, 2021, as a Final Rule, Request for 

Comments (86 FR 35217)) requiring 

performance of a USI within 10 FCs on 

the highest-risk HPT 1st-stage disks and 

HPT 2nd-stage disks and, depending on 

the results of the USI, removal of the 

affected HPT disks from service. The 

FAA is now publishing this AD to 

require performance of a USI on the 

remaining high-risk subpopulation of 

affected HPT 1st-stage disks and HPT 

2nd-stage disks and, depending on the 

results of the USI, removal of the 

affected HPT disks from service. 

Compliance time is between 100 and 

620 FCs after the effective date of this 

AD and is based on the specific V2500 

IAE turbofan engine model on which 

the affected disks are, or have been, 

installed. 

This condition, if not addressed, 

could result in uncontained HPT disk 

failure, damage to the engine, damage to 

the airplane, and loss of the airplane. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

the unsafe condition on these products. 

FAA’s Determination 

The FAA is issuing this AD because 

the agency has determined the unsafe 

condition described previously is likely 

to exist or develop in other products of 

the same type design. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Pratt & Whitney 

(P&W) Special Instruction (SI) No. 

112F–21, dated May 24, 2021. The SI 

identifies the affected HPT 1st-stage 

disks and HPT 2nd-stage disks installed 

on IAE V2522–A5, V2524–A5, V2525– 

D5, V2527–A5, V2527E–A5, V2527M– 

A5, V2528–D5, V2530–A5, and V2533– 

A5 model turbofan engines. 

The FAA reviewed P&W SI No. 114F– 

21, dated May 24, 2021. The SI 

identifies the affected HPT 2nd-stage 

disks installed on IAE V2531–E5 model 

turbofan engines. 

The FAA reviewed IAE NMSB No. 

V2500–ENG–72–0713, Revision 1, dated 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 21, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 38411 

January 26, 2021. The NMSB specifies 

procedures for a USI of the HPT 1ststage disk and HPT 2nd-stage disk. 

The FAA reviewed IAE NMSB No. 

V2500–E5–72–0015, dated December 

15, 2020. The NMSB specifies 

procedures for a USI of the HPT 1ststage disk and HPT 2nd-stage disk. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved IAE NMSB V2500–ENG–72– 

0713, Revision 1, dated January 26, 2021 

and IAE NMSB V2500–E5–72–0015, 

dated December 15, 2020, for 

incorporation by reference as of July 13, 

2021 (86 FR 30380, June 8, 2021). This 

service information is reasonably 

available because the interested parties 

have access to it through their normal 

course of business or by the means 

identified in ADDRESSES. 

AD Requirements 

This AD requires the performance of 

a USI of the HPT 1st-stage disk and HPT 

2nd-stage disk and, depending on the 

results of the inspections, replacement 

of the HPT 1st-stage disk or HPT 2ndstage disk with a part eligible for 

installation. 

Justification for Immediate Adoption 

and Determination of the Effective Date 

Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the 

Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 

U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies 

to dispense with notice and comment 

procedures for rules when the agency, 

for ‘‘good cause,’’ finds that those 

procedures are ‘‘impracticable, 

unnecessary, or contrary to the public 

interest.’’ Under this section, an agency, 

upon finding good cause, may issue a 

final rule without providing notice and 

seeking comment prior to issuance. 

Further, section 553(d) of the APA 

authorizes agencies to make rules 

effective in less than thirty days, upon 

a finding of good cause. 

An unsafe condition exists that 

requires the immediate adoption of this 

AD without providing an opportunity 

for public comments prior to adoption. 

The FAA has found that the risk to the 

flying public justifies foregoing notice 

and comment prior to adoption of this 

rule. 

On March 18, 2020, an Airbus Model 

A321–231 airplane, powered by IAE 

V2533–A5 model turbofan engines, 

experienced an uncontained HPT 1ststage disk failure that resulted in an 

aborted takeoff. The uncontained failure 

of the HPT 1st-stage disk resulted in 

high-energy debris penetrating the 

engine cowling. Based on a review of 

investigative findings performed since 

that event, the manufacturer has 

identified a high-risk population of 

affected HPT 1st-stage and HPT 2ndstage disks that are affected by the same 

unsafe condition and require USI and, 

depending on the results of the USI, 

removal from service. 

The FAA considers the risk of an 

uncontained HPT disk failure to be an 

urgent safety issue. USI of the HPT 1ststage and 2nd-stage disks must be 

accomplished between 100 FCs and 620 

FCs after the effective date of this AD to 

prevent additional HPT disk failures 

and maintain an acceptable level of 

safety. This unsafe condition, caused by 

an uncontained HPT 1st-stage disk and 

HPT 2nd-stage disk failure, may result 

in damage to the engine, damage to the 

airplane, and loss of the airplane. 

Accordingly, notice and opportunity for 

prior public comment are impracticable 

and contrary to the public interest 

pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). In 

addition, the FAA finds that good cause 

exists pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for 

making this amendment effective in less 

than 30 days, for the same reasons the 

FAA found good cause to forego notice 

and comment. 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites you to send any 

written data, views, or arguments about 

this final rule. Send your comments to 

an address listed under ADDRESSES. 

Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–2021–0544 

and Project Identifier AD–2021–00642– 

E’’ at the beginning of your comments. 

The most helpful comments reference a 

specific portion of the final rule, explain 

the reason for any recommended 

change, and include supporting data. 

The FAA will consider all comments 

received by the closing date and may 

amend this final rule because of those 

comments. 

Except for Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) as described in the 

following paragraph, and other 

information as described in 14 CFR 

11.35, the FAA will post all comments 

received, without change, to https://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. The 

agency will also post a report 

summarizing each substantive verbal 

contact received about this final rule. 

Confidential Business Information 

CBI is commercial or financial 

information that is both customarily and 

actually treated as private by its owner. 

Under the Freedom of Information Act 

(FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt 

from public disclosure. If your 

comments responsive to this AD contain 

commercial or financial information 

that is customarily treated as private, 

that you actually treat as private, and 

that is relevant or responsive to this AD, 

it is important that you clearly designate 

the submitted comments as CBI. Please 

mark each page of your submission 

containing CBI as ‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA 

will treat such marked submissions as 

confidential under the FOIA, and they 

will not be placed in the public docket 

of this AD. Submissions containing CBI 

should be sent to Alberto Hernandez, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, 

FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, 

MA 01803. Any commentary that the 

FAA receives which is not specifically 

designated as CBI will be placed in the 

public docket for this rulemaking. 

Regulatory Flexibility Act 

The requirements of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act (RFA) do not apply when 

an agency finds good cause pursuant to 

5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt a rule without 

prior notice and comment. Because FAA 

has determined that it has good cause to 

adopt this rule without prior notice and 

comment, RFA analysis is not required. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 112 engines installed on 

airplanes of U.S. registry. 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Ultrasonic inspection (includes actions necessary to disassemble the engine).204 work-hours × $85 per hour = $17,340 .... $0 $17,340 $1,942,080 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to do any necessary replacement 

that would be required based on the 

results of the inspection. The agency has 

no way of determining the number of 


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38412 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 137 / Wednesday, July 21, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

aircraft that might need this 

replacement: 

ON-CONDITION COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Replace the HPT 1st-stage disk or HPT 2nd-stage 

disk.

0 work-hours × $85 per hour = $0 ............................... $300,000 $300,000 

The FAA has included all known 

costs in its cost estimate. According to 

the manufacturer, however, some of the 

costs of this AD may be covered under 

warranty, thereby reducing the cost 

impact on affected operators. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: 

Aviation Programs describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 

The FAA is issuing this rulemaking 

under the authority described in 

Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 

44701: General requirements. Under 

that section, Congress charges the FAA 

with promoting safe flight of civil 

aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 

regulations for practices, methods, and 

procedures the Administrator finds 

necessary for safety in air commerce. 

This regulation is within the scope of 

that authority because it addresses an 

unsafe condition that is likely to exist or 

develop on products identified in this 

rulemaking action. 

Regulatory Findings 

This AD will not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This AD will not have a 

substantial direct effect on the States, on 

the relationship between the national 

government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify that this AD: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

and 

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as 

follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

2021–14–19 International Aero Engines 

AG: Amendment 39–21646; Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0544; Project Identifier AD– 

2021–00642–E. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective August 5, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to International Aero 

Engines AG (IAE) V2522–A5, V2524–A5, 

V2525–D5, V2527–A5, V2527E–A5, 

V2527M–A5, V2528–D5, V2530–A5, V2531– 

E5, and V2533–A5 model turbofan engines 

with an installed: 

(1) High-pressure turbine (HPT) 1st-stage 

disk, part number (P/N) 2A5001, with a serial 

number (S/N) listed in Accomplishment 

Instructions, Table 1, of Pratt & Whitney 

(P&W) Special Instruction (SI) No. 112F–21, 

dated May 24, 2021 (P&W SI No. 112F–21); 

or 

(2) HPT 2nd-stage disk, P/N 2A4802, with 

an S/N listed in Accomplishment 

Instructions, Table 2, of P&W SI No. 112F– 

21, or S/N listed in Accomplishment 

Instructions, Table 1, P&W SI No. 114F–21, 

dated May 24, 2021 (P&W SI No. 114F–21). 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 7250, Turbine Section. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a review of 

investigative findings from an event 

involving an uncontained failure of a HPT 

1st-stage disk that resulted in high-energy 

debris penetrating the engine cowling. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of 

the HPT 1st-stage disk and HPT 2nd-stage 

disk. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, 

could result in uncontained HPT disk failure, 

damage to the engine, damage to the airplane, 

and loss of the airplane. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

(1) For an HPT 1st-stage disk, P/N 2A5001, 

with an S/N listed in Accomplishment 

Instructions, Table 1, of P&W SI No. 112F– 

21, that has been installed at any time in an 

IAE V2527E–A5, V2527M–A5, V2528–D5, 

V2530–A5, or V2533–A5 model turbofan 

engine during operation, within 100 flight 

cycles (FCs) after the effective date of this 

AD, perform an ultrasonic inspection (USI) of 

the HPT 1st-stage disk using the 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 6, 

of IAE NMSB V2500–ENG–72–0713, 

Revision 1. 

(2) For an HPT 1st-stage disk, P/N 2A5001, 

with an S/N listed in Accomplishment 

Instructions, Table 1, of P&W SI No. 112F– 

21, that has only been installed in an IAE 

V2522–A5, V2524–A5, V2525–D5, or V2527– 

A5 model turbofan engine during operation, 

within 220 FCs after the effective date of this 

AD, perform a USI of the HPT 1st-stage disk 

using the Accomplishment Instructions, 

paragraph 6, of IAE NMSB V2500–ENG–72– 

0713, Revision 1. 

(3) For an HPT 2nd-stage disk, P/N 

2A4802, with an S/N listed in 

Accomplishment Instructions, Table 2, of 

P&W SI No. 112F–21, that has been installed 

at any time in an IAE V2527E–A5, V2527M– 

A5, V2528–D5, V2530–A5, or V2533–A5 

model turbofan engine during operation, 

within 385 FCs after the effective date of this 

AD, perform a USI of the HPT 2nd-stage disk 

using the Accomplishment Instructions, 

paragraph 7, of IAE NMSB V2500–ENG–72– 

0713, Revision 1. 

(4) For an HPT 2nd-stage disk, P/N 

2A4802, with an S/N listed in 

Accomplishment Instructions, Table 2, of 

P&W SI No. 112F–21, that has only been 

installed in an IAE V2522–A5, V2524–A5, 

V2525–D5, or V2527–A5 model turbofan 

engine during operation, within 620 FCs after 

the effective date of this AD, perform a USI 

of the HPT 2nd-stage disk using the 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 7, 

of IAE NMSB V2500–ENG–72–0713, 

Revision 1. 

(5) For an HPT 2nd-stage disk, P/N 

2A4802, with an S/N listed in 

Accomplishment Instructions, Table 1, of 

P&W SI No. 114F–21, that has only been 

installed in an IAE V2531–E5 model turbofan 

engine during operation, within 385 FCs after 

the effective date of this AD, perform a USI 

of the HPT 2nd-stage disk using the 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 7, 

of IAE NMSB V2500–E5–72–0015. 


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(6) If, during the USI required by 

paragraphs (g)(1) through (5) of this AD, a 

HPT 1st-stage disk or HPT 2nd-stage disk 

does not pass the inspection as specified in 

the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 

8, of IAE NMSB V2500–ENG–72–0713, 

Revision 1, or IAE NMSB V2500–E5–72– 

0015, as applicable, before further flight, 

remove the HPT 1st-stage disk or 2nd-stage 

disk, as applicable, from service and replace 

with a part eligible for installation. 

(h) Definition 

For the purpose for this AD, a ‘‘part eligible 

for installation’’ is: 

(1) An HPT 1st-stage disk or HPT 2nd-stage 

disk listed in Appendix A, Tables 1 and 2, 

of IAE NMSB V2500–ENG–72–0713, 

Revision 1, or Appendix A, Tables 1 and 2, 

of IAE NMSB V2500–E5–72–0015, that 

passed the USI required by paragraphs (g)(1) 

through (5) of this AD; or 

(2) An HPT 1st-stage disk or HPT 2nd-stage 

disk that is not listed in Appendix A, Tables 

1 and 2, of IAE NMSB V2500–ENG–72–0713, 

Revision 1, or Appendix A, Tables 1 and 2, 

of IAE NMSB V2500–E5–72–0015. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has 

the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, 

if requested using the procedures found in 14 

CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 

send your request to your principal inspector 

or local Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the certification office, 

send it to the attention of the person 

identified in Related Information. You may 

email your request to: ANE-AD-AMOC@

faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(j) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Alberto Hernandez, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 

238–7329; fax: (781) 238–7199; email: 

Alberto.J.Hernandez@faa.gov. 

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(3) The following service information was 

approved for IBR on August 5, 2021. 

(i) Pratt & Whitney (P&W) Special 

Instruction (SI) No. 112F–21, dated May 24, 

2021. 

(ii) P&W SI No. 114F–21, dated May 24, 

2021. 

(4) The following service information was 

approved for IBR on July 13, 2021 (86 FR 

30380, June 8, 2021). 

(i) International Aero Engines (IAE) NonModification Service Bulletin (NMSB) No. 

V2500–ENG–72–0713, Revision 1, dated 

January 26, 2021. 

(ii) IAE NMSB No. V2500–E5–72–0015, 

dated December 15, 2020. 

(5) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact International Aero Engines 

AG, 400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 

06118; phone: (800) 565–0140; email: 

help24@pw.utc.com; website: http://

fleetcare.pw.utc.com. 

(6) You may view this service information 

at FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call (781) 238–7759. 

(7) You may view this service information 

that is incorporated by reference at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, 

email: fedreg.legal@nara.gov, or go to: 

https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ 

ibr-locations.html. 

Issued on July 15, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–15486 Filed 7–16–21; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

POSTAL SERVICE 

39 CFR Part 233 

Mail Screening Regulations 

AGENCY: Postal Service. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is 

amending its regulations regarding the 

screening of mail to be consistent with 

aviation regulations regarding the 

transportation of mail via aircraft; 

continue to enhance the security and 

ensure the safety of all persons and 

property onboard aircraft carrying mail; 

and prevent and deter the carriage of 

unauthorized explosives, incendiaries, 

or other destructive substances or items 

in the mail or in postal products 

transported onboard aircraft. 

DATES: This rule is effective August 20, 

2021. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amber Jordan, Inspector Attorney, 

arjordan@uspis.gov, (202) 268–7812. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 

24, 2021, the Postal Service published a 

Federal Register Notice (86 FR 27823) 

with a proposed rule to update Postal 

Service regulations regarding the 

screening of mail. The circumstances 

which created the need for the update 

were as follows: (1) 39 CFR 233.11 was 

published as a final rule on February 28, 

1996; (2) since the publication of 39 

CFR 233.11, no updates had been made; 

(3) after February 28, 1996, changes 

were made to 49 U.S.C. 44901 requiring 

the screening of all items, including 

United States mail, transported via 

aircraft; and (4) an update is required to 

ensure it is consistent with title 49 of 

the Code of Federal Regulations as it 

pertains to mail being transported via 

aircraft. 

Therefore, this final rule modifies the 

Postal Service regulations regarding the 

screening of mail to make said 

regulations: (1) More consistent with 

aviation regulations regarding the 

transportation of mail via aircraft; (2) 

continue to enhance the security and 

ensure the safety of all persons and 

property onboard aircraft carrying mail; 

and (3) continue to prevent and deter 

the carriage of unauthorized explosives, 

incendiaries, or other destructive 

substances or items in the mail or in 

postal products transported onboard 

aircraft. 

In response to the proposed rule to 

update mail screening regulations, the 

Postal Service received comments and 

feedback. The comments and feedback 

can be grouped into four areas: (I) Term 

clarity (II) clarification of the methods 

for air carriers to request and obtain 

authority to screen U.S. mail, (III) 

procedures for screening, and (IV) a 

defined effective date. 

(I) Term Clarity 

Term(s): Undeclared hazardous 

materials, undeclared dangerous goods. 

Some comments sought clarification 

as to what items would be included in 

the phrase unauthorized explosives, 

incendiaries, or other destructive 

substances. Of specific interest was 

whether this phrase and the revised 

regulation in general would apply to 

undeclared hazardous materials and 

undeclared dangerous goods. This 

phrase must also be taken together with 

language noting screening must be 

capable of identifying explosives, 

nonmailable firearms, or other 

dangerous contents in the mails that are 

destructive or could endanger life or 

property. 

It is the intent of the Postal Service to 

encompass declared and undeclared 

goods as the dangerous nature of these 

items is unrelated to whether they have 

been declared. Additionally, with 

respect to the definition of hazardous 

material, explosives, dangerous goods 

and the concept of item mailability the 

Postal Service defines these terms in 

Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, 

and Perishable Mail and it is the intent 

of the Postal Service for Publication 52 

to be used as a reference source. 

Term: Sufficient weight to pose a 

threat. 

The Postal Service notes that 

sufficient weight to pose a threat is a 


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